1. Short-Term Residence Permit
There are many different types of short-term residence permit options. Each type of short-term residence permit is valid for a particular circumstance. These are:
1.1. Touristic Residence Permit
A short-term residence permit for tourism purposes and does not give the right to work in Turkey.
Highlights, Requirements and Documents:
• Residence permit validity for up to one (1) year.
• Applicant must be over eighteen (18) years.
• Valid health insurance. This condition is not required for foreigners who are under eighteen (18) years old or over sixty-five (65) years old.
• Property ownership documents or rental contract in Turkey. Documents must be in Turkish and notarised by Turkish Noter.
Note: In case the application is made with the title deed, a document showing that the title deed is up-to-date should be obtained from the (Tapu Office) General Directorate of Land Registry and Cadastre.
Note: If the rental contract is presented, your landlord’s Turkish ID and title deed of the property is required to be submitted along with your rental contract.
• Local Turkish bank statement evidencing financial independence and ability to support the applicant and any dependent family members (spouse and children under the age of eighteen (18) years old).
Note: Financial independence is defined by Turkish immigration as proof of funds equivalent to the Turkish minimum wage index (currently $500 USD per month of stay).
• Resident application form completed and signed by the applicant. If you have appointed a lawyer to submit your documents, your lawyer must be issued with a limited power of attorney stamped by the notary office. Applicant must be physically present at the notary office to arrange power of attorney (as your signature will be required). Applicant must present a passport. Once the passport is translated into Turkish, power of attorney can be processed and issued the same, or next day.
• Original passport, photocopy and original notarized passport or travel document (by Turkish Noter).
Note: If the passport contains a Latin alphabet, a notarized Turkish translation is not required.
Note: If the passport does not include a date of birth, the applicant needs an approved birth certificate. Notarized Turkish translation is required for this document.
• Four (4) biometric passport photos for each applicant. Must contain a white background and meet biometric requirements.
• When applying for a spouse or dependent child (under eighteen years) submit sworn Turkish translations of the child’s birth certificate and spouse marriage certificate. Birth certificate and marriage certificate may need an apostille(if your country has an agreement) or stamp from your country’s Turkey consulate. This can take some time and requires an appointment. Basically you have to go personally but any person who holds a power of attorney can go on to the appointment to your behalf to complete the procedure. The original power of attorney has to be presented at the time of the appointment at the Consulate and Foreign Ministry to act upon your behalf.
Getting a Short-Term Residence Permit with a Rental Agreement
Foreigners may get a residence permit related to the law nr 6458, Foreigners and International Protection Law. If you are a foreigner coming to Turkey for the first time, you can get a residence permit by a rental agreement. Despite the procedure goes fast and effective, there is a critical point which you should be aware of; This residence permit is valid for one year. It cannot be extended with a rental agreement. Rental agreement residence permits do not give you the right of obtaining Turkish citizenship after 5 years.
How to Renew My Touristic Residence Permit?
Renewal of Turkish tourist residence permit must be applied for within sixty (60) days before the expiration date of your current residence permit. This can be done online at https://e-ikamet.goc.gov.tr
Note: If you try to renew earlier than sixty (60) days before your current residence permit expiry date, your application will not be accepted.
Updated on 22.11.2019: From the date of 01.01.2020, If the foreigners who have received a short-term residence permit for a period of up to 1 year does not provide a new reason with justified reasons, requests for a residence permit will not be accepted.
TIP: Before you start your online application to renew your tourist residence permit, be sure to have your biometric photo (with a white background) on your computer to upload during your online application. Note that your biometric photo should not be older than six (6) months.
• Click the “I apply for the extension of the duration of residence permit” as seen on the right:
• Follow the steps to complete the online application. In the upper right corner of the website you have a choice of four (4) languages to complete your application:
1. English
2. Turkish
3. Russian
4. Arabic
Documents you’ll need:
• Your passport copy notarized by the Turkish Noter. (Passport will need to be translated by a sworn translator at the Turkish Notary office.)
• Four (4) biometric photos (against a white background) on your computer to upload during your online application. Note that your biometric photo should not be older than six (6) months.
• A financial self-sufficiency declaration (that you declare in the application form). However, Directorate for Immigration may request a local Turkish bank statement evidencing financial independence and ability to support yourself and each dependent family member (spouse and children under the age of eighteen years).
• Valid health insurance. This condition is not required for foreigners who are under eighteen (18) years old or over sixty-five (65) years old.
• Copy of property ownership documents or your tenancy agreement in Turkey. Documents must be in Turkish and notarised by Turkish Noter.
Good To Know: Children and Single Parents
If you’re a single parent or recently divorced with a child/children applying for renewal, a declaration of parental consent is required in the absence of either the Mother or Father or in the case of both (i.e. you are the custodian of an orphan). If Turkish Authorities issued a parental consent document, it must be stamped/signed. Where parental consent is from a foreign country, the document must be apostilled and translated into Turkish by a Public Notary (Noter).
1.2. Business Residence Permit
A short term residence permit to allow the applicant to explore business ventures, visit suppliers/buyers, conduct market research, trade shows and conferences, and incorporate a business, etc.
Highlights, Requirements and Documents:
• Residence permit validity for up to one (1) year.
• Applicant must be over eighteen (18) years.
• Valid health insurance. This condition is not required for foreigners who are under eighteen (18) years old or over sixty-five (65) years old.
• Evidence of financial independence and the ability to support yourself and each dependent family member (spouse and children under the age of eighteen (18) years old).
Note: Financial independence is defined by Turkish immigration as proof of funds equivalent to the Turkish minimum wage index (currently $500 USD per month of stay).
• Resident application form completed and signed by the applicant. If you have appointed a lawyer to submit your documents, your lawyer must be issued with a limited power of attorney stamped by the notary office. Applicant must be physically present at the notary office to arrange power of attorney (as your signature will be required). Applicant must present passport. Once passport is translated into Turkish, power of attorney can be processed and issued the same, or next day.
• Original passport, photocopy and original notarized passport or travel document (by Turkish Noter).
Note 1: If the passport contains a Latin alphabet, a notarized Turkish translation is not required.
Note 2: If the passport does not include a date of birth, the applicant needs an approved birth certificate. Notarized Turkish translation is required for this document.
• Four (4) biometric passport photos for each applicant. Must contain a white background and meet biometric requirements.
How to Renew My Business Residence Permit?
Renewal of Turkish business residence permit requires the following documents:
• Passport copy notarized by the Turkish Noter. (Passport will need to be translated by a sworn translator at the Turkish Notary office.)
• Four (4) biometric photos (against a white background) on your computer to upload during your online application. Note that your biometric photo should not be older than six (6) months.
• A financial self-sufficiency declaration (that you declare in the application form). However, Directorate for Immigration may request a local Turkish bank statement evidencing financial independence and ability to support the applicant and any dependent family members (spouse and children under the age of eighteen (18) years old).
• Evidence of Turkish private health insurance.
1.3. Residence Permit by Buying a Property
This residence permit is a pathway to Turkish Citizenship and nationality where the applicant is awarded a Turkish passport upon completion of the successful application.
To qualify, an applicant must meet any of the following requirements:
• Invest a minimum of five hundred thousand United States dollars ($500,000 USD) for a minimum term of three (3) years in a fixed deposit in a local Turkish bank, Government Bonds or Turkish real estate investment trusts (REITs).
• Purchase real estate for no less than two hundred and fifty thousand United States dollars ($250,000 USD) and undertake in the registry that you will not sell the real estate for a minimum of three (3) years. Source of funds for investment must self-funded and paid in full (no bank finance or credit permissible under this category of permit).
• Create employment for a minimum of fifty (50) employees, provide all employees with social security and maintain the business, employees and social security payments for a minimum of three (3) years.
Highlights, Requirements and Documents:
• Applicant must be over eighteen (18) years.
• Passport copy notarized by the Turkish Noter. (Passport will need to be translated by a sworn translator at the Turkish Notary office.)
• Four (4) biometric photos (against a white background) on your computer to upload during your online application. Note that your biometric photo should not be older than six (6) months.
• Valid health insurance. This condition is not required for foreigners who are under eighteen (18) years old or over sixty-five (65) years old.
• Police clearance certificate for all the countries you’ve lived within the past five (5) years.
• Documentary evidence of investment:
• Property title deed from Land Registry with three (3) year restriction on sale documented on the title deed and earthquake insurance.
• Ministry of Treasury and Finance or the Capital Markets Board of Turkey document evidencing a minimum investment of five hundred thousand United States dollars ($500,000 USD) for a term of three (3) years.
• Ministry of Family, Labor and Social Services document evidencing the creation of employment for a minimum of fifty (50) employees.
Short-term Residence Permit contains other opportunities for foreigners who will come to Turkey for;
– Scientific research (archaeological and excavation digs, surface research, filming activities for documentaries, movies, film location research, etc.),
– Medical treatment,
– Exchange / short time training programs (non-education programs),
– Judicial authorities (Victims of domestic violence and foreigners married to Turkish citizens who divorce, and therefore require an alternative right to residence as issued through the courts).
